The North East is well supported by our charity sector all year round, with organisations helping our communities 365 days a year. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to say thank you to the organisations that support some of the most vulnerable people in the region. Here are a few of our favourite local charities that need your help this Christmas.
FACT, Fighting all Cancers Together
FACT have had a particularly difficult year. In June, the FACT Family Home, a community hub that had been years in the making, was broken into. The centre was vandalised and ransacked, destroying a lifeline for many cancer patients and their families in only a few hours. Founder and Chief Executive Joanne Smith was faced with the task of clearing the rubble, supporting her volunteers and raising £60,000 to repair the damage.
FACT began the work of repairing and rebuilding their services, and thanks to the tireless efforts of their volunteers were able to open the FACT Family Home again only a week later. They also went on to win Voluntary Organisation of the Year at the Gateshead Awards 2024. At time of writing, the charity has raised a little over £9,000. Whilst this is an incredible testament to the community in the North East, they still have a long way to go. Even a small donation can help this charity get back on its feet.
CHUF, the Children’s Heart Unit Fund
CHUF offers holistic support for children and their families who are born with, or develop heart conditions. The Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital is one of only two units in the UK that offer bridge to transplant operations, and paediatric transplants, and support young people in the North East and across the country. The original charity was founded by Transcendit Director Dave Scott’s mum, Anne Scott, and continues to provide equipment, facilities, aftercare, salaries and research.
They run a range of events throughout the year to fundraise for their services, including the Snowflake Ball, their Toddle event, walks, runs and parties. Every donation goes towards the continuation of the essential work that they do, and you can set up a regular donation or give a one-off donation online.
Daft as a Brush
Daft as a Brush has a huge presence in and around Newcastle; if you’ve spotted one of their fleet of blue ambulances around the North East, you’ll have seen them transporting cancer patients to and from hospital for free. This organisation is entirely volunteer run, and ambulance drivers and companions keep their services running all year round. With Daft as Brush, cancer patients and their families can get to their appointments, and won’t ever go to an appointment alone.
Daft as a Brush are a huge part of the charity sector in the region, and run a number of great fundraising events throughout the year, including their Last Night of the Proms, their Christmas lights switch-on, and sponsored walks from the River Tyne Sources to the sea. Help keep their services running by donating on their website, or consider becoming a volunteer ambulance driver or companion.
